Are You a New Hire? Some Great Tips to Start Your Job Off Right

It’s almost the end of the school year — which means it’s time for graduation. And that means there will be a new flood of graduates entering the workplace.

The transition from college to government — or any workplace — can be tough. GovLoop wants to make it as smooth as possible for you. So we solicited tips from the community, asking them: What is your #1 tip for a new hire in their first job?

Read some of our favorite tips from GovLoop users below. Though we geared these toward new hires out of college, we really think these tips can apply to anyone starting a new job at any point in their career.

Adrian Pavia:

My friends and I always laugh at our younger selves for being so overconfident upon graduation. This is especially true for undergraduates. My recommendation for young people working in their first professional jobs is to be open and try to learn as much as you can. You have a lot to offer, but even more to learn, so try to find the right balance.

It can be tough to go from being the master of your field in college to a relative novice in the office. But if you keep an open mind, take constructive criticism as it comes, and pay attention, you’ll quickly regain your ‘senior’ status.

David Grinberg:

• Maintain a low profile, the complement of which is absorbing all new info like a sponge (policies, practices, procedures, etc.). Also (bonus tips):
• Arrive before your boss does and leave the office after her/him (if in-office job),
• Work your rear off and be a team player,
• Focus on listening more than talking (at least until you get the lay of the land),
• Be open and receptive to new and innovative ways of working,
• Ask questions about a project rather than screw it up,
• Always accept an invite if your new boss or co-workers invite you for coffee or lunch,
• Get involved in charitable volunteer work sponsored by your organization,
• Always reflect confidence and a positive “can-do” attitude, and
• Always be polite and avoid being arrogant at all costs.
• Lastly, do NOT discuss your new job on social media — especially ranting about it.

Terry Hill:

Build your social and organizational networks, getting engaged as soon as possible and volunteer for assignments which give you exposure to organizational leadership, especially those assignments which no one else wants to be involved in.

What’s your #1 tip for a new hire coming into their first job? Leave them in the comments below, and we may feature them in an upcoming GovLoop blog post!